Revolving door



Dec. 22, 1936.

C. SZELLE REVOLVING DOOR Filed Oct. 2, 1955 INVENTOR 32e/Ie 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 22, 1936.

REVOLVING DOOR Filed Oct. Z2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 w H /9 'VL/ji Z0 v l "tig il-;

' -f z5 J5 /4 jf f 575% 1 jp/ z/ /f "p I 4T* l Ul All "'71 nI k lili? z hfl u 5 /ZJZQ li 6 N I g4/4 5 /Zzz il i! l /4 /5 4 j LQWJ '5 /f Y?? ORNEY c. szELLE 2,064,863 l Patented Dec. 22, 1936 PATENT CFFICE REVOLVING DOOR Charles Szelle, Astoria, N. Y., assgnor to Atlas Revolving Door Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,173

6 Claims.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: To provide a panic-proof door; to provide an improved door in which the wings comprising the same may be swung in open parallel relationship with respect to each other; to enable the door wings to collapse and/or be assembled in minimum time; to enable the wings to be opened by vigorous endeavor of two persons to leave through opposite sides of the door; to provide individual means on each door wing whereby each said wing may be released independently of the other; to `use minimum parts in the assembly mechanism of the operating means; to utilize the tension which retains each locking means to cumulatively resist swinging the wings to open position; to maintain a two-point support With respect to each disk-plate; to secure simplicity vof construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description. Drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation and partly in section of a revolving door embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan View shown as taken on line 2 2 of Figure 3 and showing the doors in normal open position;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view shown 30 4as taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a View somewhat similar to Figure 2, and showing the doors in broken lines as in released or collapsed position.

Description lThe door of the present invention is of the general type known as revolving doors in which a plurality of wings are provided around a central shaft. In case of panic, such doors often become a menace due to persons trying to make their exit through both sides at once. Let it be said, therefore, at the outset of this description, that the door of the present invention is constructed so that energetic effort exerted upon any `two wings in adverse direction, will fold the wings, and thus provide a panic-proof door.

As seen in the drawings, the reference numeral III designates the central shaft or support which is mounted for rotation in any manner common to this class of doors. The door wings are designated generally by the reference numeral II of which there are usually four in number, and said wings are connected to, supported and guided with respect to said central shaft Il] to permit of their independent movement from a normal radially disposed active position or other folded positions, by the improved means constituting an essential part of the present invention. Said means includes preferably a pair of circular elements or disk-like plates I2 of the necessary diameter and thickness which are secured to, movable with and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the central shaft ID. The disk-like plates I2 are preferably arranged adjacent the upper and lower ends of the central shaft I0.

When the door is in its closed position, it will lo be understood that it presents the perpendicular angular relationship of Wings II common in the art. In other words, the central shaft IIl is at the intersecting planes of the pairs of wings, the wings being symmetrically disposed at 90 in- 15 tervals around said shaft. The present construction and mechanism contemplates folding the wings, for open position of the door, to stand substantially flatwise together and extending in a single general direction away from the shaft.

Carrying out the invention, the connection between each wing II and each disk-like plate I2 is by means of a pivotal support with the pivotal supports of the several wings movable through a circular path concentric with the shaft and disk-like plates. Furthermore, the points of pivoting, indicated by numerals I3 are beyond the periphery of the disk-like plate` The actual connection and support between the wings I I and disk-like plate I2 may conveniently be secured through the agency of the mechanism now to be described in connection with one disklike plate only, since both plates are the same except for necessary reversal of parts for enabling the mechanism to function in the same direction at the top and bottom of the door.

For convenience, it is preferable to provide for each disk-like plate I 2, a pair of escutcheon plates I4, I5 which at their outer faces, lie substantially ilatwise in the respective planes of the wing faces. In passing, it may be stated that these escutcheons have portions on lugs I6, I'I normal to the plane of the plate and each directed toward the other plate with the several lugs overlapping so as to receive a bolt I8 from the inner edge of the wing thereby retaining the escutcheon plates secured together and mounted upon the wing Without showing of screws or the like on the faces thereof. One escutcheon plate, as III, has other lugs I9 on its inner face which will project partly through 50 the door and receive screws or the like 20 from the other face of the door beneath the opposed escutcheon for effecting the support of the Wing from the escutcheon plate assembly. For convenience, the escutcheon having these penetrating lugs will be distinguished as the primary plate, since it is the first secured upon the door, and the other one which covers the screws, will be referred to as the secondary plate, since it is applied after the primary plate, and then Secured by the bolt I8 as above described.

The primary escutcheon plate I4 also has upon its inner face, preferably as an integral part thereof, a housing 2 I, in the nature of a heavy rib longitudinally disposed with respect to the plate and normal to the shaft I. The aforementioned bolt-receiving lugs I6 of the primary plate may conveniently be provided at the ends of this housing. Both escutcheon plates, said rib or housing and the wings are transversely recessed or cutaway to receive the disk-like plate I2 therethrough so that the inner end of the said rib or housing is next the shaft I0.

Specifically referring to the upper disk-like plate I2 as here shown, the same is provided with an annular groove or track 22 in its upper face adjacent its outer periphery. A shoe 23 rides in this track, said shoe having an upper portion or extension 22 which is above the level of the top of the disk-like plate and projects over the same and beyond the periphery of the plate, which said extension is mounted within a slot 25 of the housing and escutcheon plates I4 and I5. Pivot I3 passes through said extension 24 beyond the periphery of the disk-like plate, and when the escutcheon assembly, and wing, are swung upon the pivot, a portion offthe extension will protrude from one side or the other of the wing and escutcheon. The shoe and its extension remain, however, always in radial position with respect to the shaft and disk-like plate.

From the annular groove or track 22 are provided a plurality of radial grooves 26 in the upper face of the disk-like plate I2 and directed from the groove radially inward toward the shaft. A roller 247 mounted by a stud 28 to the housing rides in this groove when thewing is being folded. Preferably there are but four of these radial grooves 26 corresponding in position to the positions of the four wings when extended to form the closed door.

Opposite to the outer end of each radial groove 26 is provided a notch 29 in the outer periphery of the disk-like plate I2. 'I'his notch will receive the inner end of a latch 30 normally pressed toward locking position by spring 3l within it and the housing 2 I. Manual release of this latch may be effected by suitable means', for which purpose I have yshown a bolt 32 secured therein and extending rearwardly from the latch to receive under its head a lifting yoke 33 in turn operated by an arrow or lever arm 34 on the face of the escutcheon plate I4. The latch and notch are preferably formed so as to remain in locked assembly under the spring pressure for all normal pushes on the door wing by persons using the door. However, upon exerting an extra vigorous push upon the wing, with another wing held or pushed in opposite direction, the latch will release from the notch and ride along the outer peripheral face of the disk-like plate as the wing is'swung to open position.

In view of the offset of pivot I3 for the wing I I from the annular groove or track 22, an initial angular displacement for the inner end of the swinging parts is required as the shoe 23 begins to ride in the track. Figures 2 and 4 clearly show a lateral hollow 35 in one side of each radial groove 26 next its inner end. Rotatably mounted on the shaft I0 is a star or member 36 the points of which lie in these hollows 35 of the grooves but with suilicient play so as to oscillate therein. In normal position, as in Figure 2, the points of the star provide a continuation of the edge of the groove, but when increased latitude is required, the star oscillates to the position of Figure 4. As part of this star, on the under side thereof, are provided a plurality of shoulders 31, one for each door wing I I. A push rod 38 extends from engagement with each said shoulder 3l to .the peripheral notch 2S of the disk-like member to be there engaged by the end of the latch r30. When the latch is in its notch, it pushes the rod 38 inward and that in turn maintains the star in its normal position. When all four latches are manually withdrawn by manipulation of the arrow levers, the star is free to oscillate and consequently the wings may be readily swung on their pivots and then revolved upon the disk-like plates.

In case of panic, the springs of the latches will respond to the excessive pressure applied to the wings and permit-the latches to release as well as permitting the star to oscillate. It may be noted, that normal operation of revolving doors is in one direction (anti-clockwise looking down upon the door) and the construction is such that, considering latch 30 as the fulcrum of the folding movement, roller 2'! at the inner end of the radial groove 26 is pressed toward the fixed wall of that groove. A hard push, therefore in this normal direction (or anti-clockwise) does not tend to rotate the star 36 at all. However, in a'panic, persons are apt to make a dash for both sides, and an effort applied to a wing (clockwise) in wrong direction of rotation tends to oscillate the star. The several springs of the latches are strong enough to resist that oscillation .where the push is of normal intensity, but where the push is excessive, as' by a panic-striken person, or where another is exerting an opposite push 0n another wing, the star will be oscillated, thereby releasing all of the latches, and the door will open forthwith.

I claim:

l. A revolving door as characterized comprising a centralshaft having disk-like plates projecting radially and normally therefrom, each said plate having an annular track therein and radial grooves from said track toward the shaft, shoes slidable in said track, and wings pivotally carried by said shoes and having an engagement each in one of said grooves. v

2. A revolving door as characterized comprising a central shaft having disk-like plates projecting radially and normally therefrom, each said plate havingan annular track therein and radial grooves from said track toward the shaft, shoes slidable in said track, and wings pivotally carried by said shoes and having an engagement each in one of said grooves, each of said grooves having a portion of its side wall movable for increasing the width of the groove at the point of normal engagement of the wing when in normal position to permit an initial swinging of the wing to an abnormal position.

3. A revolving door as characterized comprising a central shaft having disk-like plates projecting radially and normally therefrom, each said plate having an annular track therein and radial grooves from said track toward the shaft, shoes slidable in said track, and wings pivotally carried by said shoes and having an engagement each in one of said grooves, each of said grooves having a portion of its side wall movable for increasing the width of the groove at the point of normal engagement of the wing when in normal position to permit an initial swinging of the Wing to an abnormal position, and each wing having a latch at the periphery of the disk release of which permits further swing of the Wing with respect to said disk-like plates.

4. A revolving door as characterized comprising a central shaft having disk-like plates projecting radially and normally therefrom, each said plate having an annular track therein and radial grooves from said track toward the shaft, shoes Aslidable in said track, and Wings pivotally carried by said shoes and having an engagement each in one of said grooves, each of said grooves having a portion of its side Wall movable for increasing the Width of the groove at the point of normal engagement of the Wing when in normal position to permit an initial swinging of the Wing to an abnormal position, each Wing having a latch at the periphery of the disk release of which permits further swing of the wing with respect to said disk-like plates, and means interconnecting the movable groove wall with the latch.

5. A revolving door as characterized comprising a central shaft having disk-like plates projecting radially and normally therefrom, each said plate having an annular track therein and radial grooves from said track toward the shaft, shoes slidable in said track, wings pivotally carried by said shoes and having an engagement each in one of said grooves, and a star having portions thereof comprising movable portions for one side of a part of each of said radial grooves at the point of normal engagement of the wings in said groove when in normal position to permit an initial swinging of one wing to an abnormal position to increase the Width of all the grooves and permit an initial swing of all the Wings.

6. A revolving door as characterized comprising in combination with a Wing, a pair of escutcheon plates on opposite faces of said wing, one of said plates being secured by screws from the face of the Wing under the other plate, and the plates being secured in assembled relation by a bolt inserted from the inner edge of the wing.

CHARLES SZELLE. 

